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Jul 5, 2015
"I want to improve."
At first, I had no idea what Hibike! Euphonium (aka Sound! Euphonium) was going to be. I thought it would be another generic clubroom comedy with instruments and music taking the back seat. But I was wrong. At its core, Hibike is about working together to achieve greatness, but also about finding yourself and what you want to achieve. This is Hibike! Euphonium, an anime about a high school concert band and its struggle to become the best in Japan. Now, let us begin the review.
Story (8): The story begins with our main character Kumiko transitioning into high school, wanting to start
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over without having to worry about band like she did in middle school. However, when her new friends decide to join the school band (which sucks, by the way), she lets herself be dragged along, only to find that things there are much worse than she ever could have imagined. Everyone says they want to be the best concert band in Japan, but actually, they just want to have fun and make good memories. Which isn't bad in itself, but no one wants to commit to either choice. Like Kumiko, they want someone to decide their lives for them, so they go with the flow instead of making things happen for themselves.
One thing that stands out to me about Hibike's story is that it addresses a common problem in band: apathy. Usually, you have stronger players who are genuinely interested in making great music and practice hard every day, but you also have players who kind of sit back and don't put much effort in at all. I think many people know what it's like to have a team with someone who doesn't pull their weight. Hibike is a relatable and refreshing take on concert band, being unique in that I can't name another anime that deals with concert band as well as this one.
Art (10): Do I even need to say anything here? The animation is by Kyoto Animation and the backgrounds are gorgeous. The character designs are cute, but not in a way that feels cheap and forced. Another thing worth mentioning is that all the background characters are animated and have as much life to them as the main cast.
Sound (10): What I find amazing about the sound is that an experienced instrumentalist can pick out the different sounds/strengths/weaknesses of a particular piece. I play the trumpet, and I really enjoy being able to see the fingerings, listen to the tone, and hear the instrument along with a band. The effort required to put together so many music samples paid off, making the band seem more real and more alive.
Character (9): Considering how many characters there are, you would expect Hibike to neglect a lot of them and push them to the side, but this season gives you just enough information to care about them and want more. For the sake of time, I'll just say that Kumiko's transformation into a passionate, talented euphonium player feels believable and well earned. The other players also have significant development, with notable examples being Natsuki and Haruka. The only problem? I need mooore. In particular, I'm very curious as to why Asuka behaves the way she does.
Enjoyment/Overall (9): If you read all the way here, I'll say that Hibike is definitely worthy of a 10 right now, but I will revise the review once a second season arrives (it better). Also, Kumiko and Reina better be a thing. But that's my opinion. Anyway, I fully recommend trying this series and I had a lot of fun with it! For anyone interested in watching/re-watching the series, here's a game: follow one "background" character in the band for the whole anime. I loved seeing the drill-haired trombone player (with the sass) and the lipstick-wearing saxophone player (gotta adjust my skirt).
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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May 3, 2015
Since I recently finished this series (and the director's cut), I feel like I should explain why I loved this series as much as I did. Also, I have not seen the original Gatchaman, but the story is very different in Crowds, so you don't need to worry about watching anything before it. Now, for the review. Bird, go!
Story (8): Gatchaman Crowds is both a deconstruction and homage to the traditional "Hero saving the Earth" story. We have a group of heroes who protect the world from the shadows and have to conceal their identities. However, when a girl named Hajime joins their group, they
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begin to realize that the way they used to do things might not apply to the modern world. Technology, social issues, and even the villains have all changed. The series feels surprisingly relevant, showing us that heroes don't need to have special powers, but they just have to care about the world they live in. I like the fact that, in the end, heroes and villains are all just people. Even with the "aliens", I have to question whether or not they are just the ugly parts of ourselves, considering what Hajime says in the director's cut.
However, some people might not enjoy the lack of action for a hero series, or the relatively easy way in which certain conflicts are resolved. Either way, I think the series is worth watching for how unique it is, as an anime that questions what it means to be a "hero" in everyday life.
Art (8): The art is very colorful, which makes the character designs stand out. However, the use of CG was a bit jarring at times, but it never stayed CG long enough for me to care that much.
Sound (9): First of all, the opening and ending songs were really good, but not outstanding. For the most part, the OST was the same, good without being great. However, when the series wanted you to be pumped, it delivered. I found myself tapping my foot to the beat every time.
Character (9): I feel like the characters are where Gatchaman Crowds really shines. At first, I thought Hajime was not only weird, but not a character I would end up liking. However, I found myself drawn to her more and more as the series went on. She is a character with hidden depths, who isn't just hyperactive and weird, but thoughtful and caring. Each of the heroes changes in some way by the end, and while I liked some characters more than others, they all had decent development.
Enjoyment/Overall (9): Have you ever wondered why they don't just do a certain thing in many hero anime (Didn't they have Google? Why didn't they use their cellphone?). Gatchaman Crowds tries to tackle these issues. It prefers conflict resolution in the way of changing people themselves, instead of having the main characters power up to beat the final boss. In that way, I enjoyed the series. It was different, it was upbeat, and I liked Hajime's character a lot by the end.
Waiting for the second season...
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jun 18, 2014
Let's just say I went into Steins;Gate ready to bash it for the typical pitfalls of hyped anime: cliched characters, action sequences for no apparent reason, and lack of ambition. So what did I think after watching 24 episodes of time travel goodness? Well, as a certain mad scientist would say, "It's so cool, (sonuvabitch)!" Yet, no matter how much I liked the series as a whole, I felt like something was missing. It just didn't have the same personal/emotional impact on me as other shows did, though I enjoyed it nonetheless.
Story: 9
Steins;Gate is a story about a self-proclaimed "mad scientist" named Okabe Rintarou, who
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has recently become interested in building a time machine. To his surprise, the machine he built works, though he has no idea HOW it works or what the implications of this might be. Right off the bat, the story grabs your attention with its unique setting. And while the idea of time travel has been done in many anime/manga before, Steins;Gate is one of the few that incorporates actual theories on the mechanics in a way that a regular person (like me) could understand. However, the series is not all technical. It can be funny when it wants to be, or it can be emotional and heart-wrenching. Either way, amazing dialogue and plot twists make this a very enjoyable watch.
Art: 10
The art direction is very fascinating. You only need to look at the opening to see the cleanness and creativity of the art in Steins;Gate. Black-and-white frames are expressive and used appropriately. Items like clocks and hourglasses are drawn especially well. Also, the character designs are unique and pleasant to look at.
Sound: 10
Again, I never felt like the music was out-of-place. It was always suitable for the occasion, whether it was trying to be serious or funny. Special mention goes to the opening theme "Hacking to the Gate", which I enjoyed quite a bit.
Character: 9
Overall, a solid cast of characters. While it had certain cliches (tsundere, genki girl, perverted nerd), it never held itself to them, providing backstory and exposition when necessary. My only complaint is that, with the exception of our main cast, the characters' personalities are rather dull. For example, I was hoping that one of the show's major antagonists would turn out to be more sympathetic than she actually was. I love it when a show has a villain that you can both love and hate, but it feels like Steins;Gate only included that character for the audience to vent out our frustrations. The "punch scene" (if you watch the series, you'll understand) was funny, yet I couldn't get over the fact that they made her act like an "evil brat" when she could have been much, much more.
Enjoyment/Overall: 9
I enjoyed this series a lot more than I was expecting to. It struck a good balance between comedy and drama, not to mention the immense production value. I would definitely recommend this series to anyone willing to give it a try.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Mar 31, 2014
When I first heard of Bokurano, I was moderately intrigued, but I put it aside because it was a mecha and there other things I wanted to watch. Looking back, that was a poor decision. Now, Bokurano is one of my favorite mecha anime of all time. Because instead of focusing on the robot and the battles, they chose to focus on the development of each pilot and the Earth as a whole.
Story: 9
The anime starts out rather slow, introducing the characters, and of course, the giant mech. From the second episode onward, however, the tone of the series changes. While these children have
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to fight off external enemies, they begin to realize that the battles themselves are the least of their worries. To give any more away would be a massive spoiler, but think along the lines of a sad slice-of-life moment in each episode of Bokurano. Not to mention the plot twists, which go to show how complicated the world really is.
Art: 7
Because it came out in 2007, I knew the art wouldn't be able to compare to anime now. That being said, a few episodes really should have been cleaned up more. Overall, I didn't really have a problem with the art. It was simple and got to the point.
Sound: 10
Oddly enough, the music was another reason I enjoyed Bokurano so much. From the opening, Uninstall, to the ending, I never felt like the music was out of place. Not to mention the meaning behind the opening and ending lyrics being so appropriate to the series. As I've said, Bokurano is more of a slice-of-life tragedy than anything else, so my favorite parts were always when the violin music started playing.
Character: 9
This is undoubtedly the strength of the series, though I will explain why I gave it a 9 later. Each of the pilots are troubled youths, who have their own stories to tell and problems to overcome. The coming-of-age backdrop of the series is well-executed with mech battles being more of a symbol of the characters growing up than defeating enemies. They all have to find within themselves a reason to fight for the world, whether it be for family or friends. And while certain episodes were very tragic and heartwarming (at the same time, though you'd find out why after watching the series), certain characters were not as memorable as the others, so I can only give this a 9.
Enjoyment: 9
A majority of the episodes had me on the edge of my seat, either because I wasn't expecting a plot twist there or because the backstory of one of the pilots was that good. Again, certain episodes were less powerful than others. Also, Bokurano is a surprisingly simple story about growing up. It doesn't bombard you with complex philosophical questions; it is much more subtle, describing the world of a child and letting the audience interpret for themselves the meaning behind their lives.
Overall: 9
Whether you end up enjoying Bokurano or not, I suggest you at least watch a few episodes. This is one of the hidden gems that I found, not even expecting to. This is basically the Madoka Magica of mecha anime.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jan 19, 2014
Despite being cut from 26 episodes down to 13, Angel Beats holds a very special place in my heart. It follows a group of individuals who died and went to Purgatory. Bitter at the unfairness of the world, they decide to rebel against God. But the more they try, the more they are confronted with memories of their past lives. Thus, in order to fight the God who made their lives miserable, the group known as the Afterlife Battlefront must conquer their own painful memories. (Warning: Spoilers ahead)
Story: 9
The story in Angel Beats is like a jigsaw puzzle, but one might argue that the same
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can be said of real life. In trying to defeat God, the leader of the Afterlife Battlefront Yurippe made a plan to attack one of his servants, a strong and emotionless girl they call 'Angel', in order to buy them enough time to discover God's hideout. In doing so, however, we get to see the everyday interactions of the characters, from baseball games to dungeon crawls. I liked how the story was so random and spontaneous, showing how you can set out to do one thing, but discover something even more meaningful in the process. Angel Beats teaches us that even if our lives aren't as simple and beautiful as we hope, they will always be our irreplaceable treasures.
Art: 9
While the art in Angel Beats was superb in some cases (like concerts/Angel), I kind of wish that would carry over to everything else.
Sound: 10
If I could give this more than a 10, I would. From Girls Dead Monster to "My Precious Treasure", every song was not only perfect for the occasion, but extremely meaningful. If you pay attention to the lyrics (which is hard, given how great the music sounds), you start to realize how symbolic the series really is.
Character: 9
Development of the characters is done really well throughout the series. I think this is because Angel Beats doesn't slap you over the head and tell you to cry. The sad parts are often followed by comedy and the characters never try too hard to make you cry. In this case, it is not even the telling of the story I found sad, but the actual content. The only flaw I can see is that some of the characters (TK, Shiina, and Noda) are left out.
Enjoyment: 10
A fun, action-packed series that is a lot more complex than it lets on. Plus, it can be really sad.
Overall: 9
If the series was 26 episodes instead and featured the backstories of TK, Noda, and Shiina, I would have given this anime a 10. I can't wait for the VN to come out!
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Dec 19, 2013
When I found out about Shigofumi, I was intrigued by the concept. It explores what would happen if you could send a letter after your death to the world of the living. The ones who deliver these letters are only supposed to observe as the strong feelings of the dead affect the people they knew. The contents of these letters, however, are not always uplifting.
Story: 8
I really enjoyed the originality of the story. By that, I mean how the letters considered "all" strong emotions, even those of intense hatred. Social issues in Shigofumi include bullying and joblessness (and something else I'd rather not spoil). The
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episodic nature of the series never bothered me, though I'll admit certain episodes were better than others.
Art: 8
The art was solid and well-done, though not astounding. Again, the art quality seemed to be a little different each episode, but never bad enough to be noticeable.
Sound: 8
I enjoyed the ending theme (Chain) more than the opening, but both were enjoyable and appropriate.
Character: 8
Development for the "character of the episode" was always well fleshed out, but again, how much you enjoy it depends on personal preference. I had a few characters I found amazing and a few that I didn't really care for as much. However, in each episode, we also find out a little more about Fumika, the main mail carrier in the series.
Enjoyment: 8
I really enjoyed the series, though some episodes had less of an impact than others. My only other criticism is that it might seem a little slow at times.
Overall: 8
The series has mysterious, sometimes overelaborate setups, and if you find yourself getting bored, don't give up on the series right away. Give it a few more episodes and you might find yourself liking it a little more.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Dec 19, 2013
Medaka Box Abnormal is the second season to the slice-of-life series Medaka Box. Unlike its predecessor, however, it tackles much darker themes and finally gives us a reason for why Medaka acts the way she does. Minus the stripping, of course.
Story: 6
Although it differs greatly from the school comedy genre, the story is very typical shounen. Some villain, in this case a man with the personality of Gilgamesh and the ability to control people, wants to create the perfect human by sacrificing the students of Hakoniwa. Medaka is the key to this project, and when she refuses to join, many battles ensue.
Sound: 7
There were
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only a few songs that stood out to me, but they were perfect for the what they were trying to convey. The voice actors did a good job capturing the emotions of the characters and the opening (Believe) was enjoyable.
Character: 9
This is where Medaka Box Abnormal really shines. It makes you think about why people act in a certain way. The backstories of the villains are so well done that you can't help but wonder if they are actually bad people. Not to mention the variety of powers they have. Most of the time, I felt like I was watching the show to see what power the villain would have next, rather than seeing where the story goes. Also, all of the main cast get their own backstories. Let's just say that even though I hated Medaka from the first season, the second season made me think she's actually not that bad and feel sorry for her.
Enjoyment: 8
I definitely enjoyed watching this series, and even if you haven't seen the first season, there's nothing wrong with jumping into the second.
Overall: The only problem I had with Abnormal is that the story is just a build-up for a third season that may or may not happen. Which is sad, because the Minus arc is really where the story gets good.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Dec 19, 2013
When I first started watching Teekyuu, I didn't expect to like it as much as I did. Really, the comedy is hit-or-miss and might not be for everyone, but if you're looking for a quick laugh and can't bother with 20 minute episodes, then Teekyuu might be for you. The characters are all ridiculously funny and lighthearted, the opening was extremely catchy, and you sometimes forget that this show is supposed to be about tennis.
I thought the seiyuu did a great job throughout, making the comedy stand out despite the absolutely random story. Overall, I enjoyed every moment of Teekyuu, and while it's not
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a masterpiece, it shows that caffeine and a sense of humor can go quite well with each other.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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